Text messaging or commonly called texting is the process of sending short messages usually 160 characters from a mobile phone. The latest mobile phones are capable of sending as much as 20 pages containing 160 characters of text messages. These messages are commonly called SMS, texts or text messages.



Text messaging technology uses an SMS gateway in order to hook up any mobile SMS service to an existing instant message service, Word Wide Web, PDA devices, personal computers as well as to any landline phone.

Some of the devices which have Bluetooth devices can connect to a mobile phone as a modem can also send SMS through wireless networks. SMS have been widely used with either GSM or non GSM systems.

Basically, text messaging intends to provide a means of sending message to one person to another no matter where they are as long as there is signal coverage from the mobile providers. This service is also used for automated systems primarily for the purpose of purchasing produces as well as services for mobile phone. Text messaging is also widely used in many contests.

According to some companies, the first ever text message was sent during 1989 by Edward Lantz, a former NASA employee. The text message was sent through a Motorola beeper. The message consists of numbers read upside down to read the message.

On December 3, 1992 in the United Kingdom, the first SMS messaging was used in a commercial sent through a Vodafone GSM network. The SMS message was sent by Neil Papworth with the use of a desktop computer. The SMS contains the word Merry Christmas which was sent to Richard Jarvis from Vodafone through a handset device model Orbitel 901. For the GSM systems, the first SMS using a Nokia phone was sent by an engineering student, Riku Pihkonen.

At first, text messaging has not been very popular since it was designed primarily to be used by the hearing impaired. During the 1990s only few messages were being sent through SMS. But during the year 2000, there have been a gradual increase in the use of text messaging.

As the text messaging system has been developed, it had gained popularity which has increased the number of SMS messages as well as a sudden increase of the numbers of subscribers.

Based on statistics, Finland, Norway and Sweden there are around 72% of the total population are using text messaging. In Europe and North America, there are over 85% users of SMS.

Among the Asian countries, the Philippines have the largest population of mobile subscribers who uses text messaging as a means of communication. An average of 20 text messages is being sent daily by a subscriber.

Because of this, the Philippines have been considered as the text capital of the world. On 2007 alone, there are 42.70 million people who are subscribers of mobile phones.Text messaging has been very popular in the Philippines because it has been a cheap and reliable alternative means of communication.

According to the Global Messaging Survey conducted by Nokia, text messaging has been proven to be an addictive activity. This has been confirmed by a study by the University of Queensland which is based in Australia. It has been compared to be as addictive as cigarette smoking.

Since text messaging has become very popular around the world, the text speaks or text lingo has been adapted as a way to type messages quickly. Text speak are abbreviations of words which tends to avoid typing the whole word which is time consuming. Another reason is that most mobile phones do not have QUERTY keyboards just like personal computers.